It took twenty-four years, but Mike Myers finally said the only word Austin Powers fans needed to hear.
During an appearance on Trevor Noah’s World Cup Watch Party on June 16, a fan question cut straight to the point: “Are we ever going to see an Austin Powers 4?” Myers didn’t hedge, didn’t qualify, didn’t go into development talk. He looked at the camera and said: “Yes.” Nothing else. No writer. No director. No release date. No studio confirmation. Just a single syllable from the man who created, writes, and performs the entire franchise — and for Austin Powers fans, that is more than enough.
Twenty-Four Years Between Films
The Austin Powers series launched in 1997 with International Man of Mystery, introducing the cryogenically frozen 1960s super-spy who wakes up in the modern era to battle his nemesis Dr. Evil — both roles played by Myers. A sharp spoof of the James Bond franchise and the broader culture of swinging sixties espionage, the film became a genuine cultural phenomenon. Two sequels followed: The Spy Who Shagged Me in 1999 and Goldmember in 2002, the latter featuring a career-defining appearance from Beyoncé. The three films combined for over $670 million at the global box office.
Then nothing. For over two decades, the franchise sat dormant. Myers spoke periodically about a fourth film — telling Entertainment Weekly in 2005 there was “hope,” telling Entertainment Tonight in 2024 there were “absolutely” more stories to tell — but never gave a direct answer. As Deadline noted, franchise director Jay Roach said in 2020 he was “always game for anything he wants to do,” but acknowledged a fourth film would “depend on Mike having something that he’s inspired about.” That inspiration has apparently arrived.
Dr. Evil Is Already Back
The confirmation didn’t come entirely out of nowhere. In the weeks before the World Cup Watch Party appearance, Myers had already revived his Dr. Evil character for a Verizon commercial — a full scene, not a throwaway cameo. The ad features Dr. Evil launching a “diabolical phone company” called Menace Mobile, with Seth Green returning as Scott Evil, Mindy Sterling back as Frau Farbissina, and Rob Lowe reprising his role as the younger No. 2. Last year, Myers also brought Dr. Evil back for a Saturday Night Live sketch that targeted Elon Musk with considerable enthusiasm.
Both appearances confirmed that Myers still has complete command of these characters — and that audiences respond to them immediately. The Verizon ad in particular felt less like a one-off and more like a test run.
Where Myers Stands Now
Myers has been less absent from screens than his reputation as a recluse might suggest. He had a cameo as music executive Walter Yetnikoff in the Michael Jackson biopic Michael, and starred in the 2022 Netflix comedy series The Pentaverate. His last leading live-action film role, however, remains the 2008 flop The Love Guru — a gap of nearly two decades that made Austin Powers 4 feel increasingly distant with each passing year.
He’s also returning to voice Shrek in Shrek 5, due June 2027, so his production schedule is clearly active. Myers has previously indicated that any fourth Austin Powers film would shift the story toward Dr. Evil’s perspective — a direction that could refresh the franchise after a long absence rather than simply repeating the formula. No writer or director has been announced, and no further details are currently available.
One Word Is Still Enough
There’s something very Austin Powers about the announcement itself. No press release. No studio logo. No teaser trailer playing over a Burt Bacharach track. Just a 63-year-old comedian on a live World Cup broadcast saying “Yes” and leaving the room before anyone could follow up. Variety called it “a single word and absolutely zero elaboration.” That tracks. Groovy, baby.